§ Mr. WellsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities are considering the large-scale voluntary transfer of housing stock.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 12 April 1994]: The following 12 authorities are included in the 1994–95 programme for large-scale voluntary transfers—LSVTs: Basingstoke and Deane borough council Castle Point borough council Cherwell district council Maldon district council Malvern Hills district council Mid Bedfordshire district council North Dorset district council Penwith district council Thanet district council Vale of White Horse district council Walsall metropolitan borough council and Wychavon district council.
We encourage all authorities to consider the possibility of transfer, but it is for individual councils together with their tenants to decide whether to pursue this option. I understand that a number of authorities are considering applying for places on the 1995–96 programme. We are likely to invite applications in the autumn and I hope to announce the names of successful applicants by the end of the year.